Networks Back Obama 'Replay' on Infrastructure
Just like in Groundhog Day when Bill Murray wakes up to the same day each and every morning, it appears Americans will feel a frustrating sense of déjà vu listening to President Obama's jobs speech on Sept. 8.
According to Bloomberg, Obama's not-so-new plan "follows the contours of his $830 billion 2009 economic stimulus package." This time around, Obama will call for $300 billion for tax breaks and infrastructure spending. Never mind that the first one didn't work as promised. Meanwhile, the network news media are treating the ideas from his speech like new solutions, instead of more of the same.
In just the past week, the three broadcast networks have mentioned infrastructure in nine news stories. ABC's Jim Avila even promoted the call for World War II-level spending in one report.
Yet not a single one of those reports reminded viewers that Obama already invested billions in infrastructure. They should remember that since the same networks had aired 76 stories about infrastructure and the stimulus between Obama's election and Feb. 13, 2009 (when the stimulus bill passed).
On Sept. 5, 2011, ahead of his jobs speech Obama said, "We've got roads and bridges across this country that need rebuilding … Let's put America back to work." Sound familiar?
Back in 2008 Obama said, "We'll put people back to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges." In fact, back then Obama said "we will create millions of jobs by making the single largest new investment in our national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s." Before inventing the meaningless "create or save" phrase, his administration said the stimulus package would create 2.5 million jobs. Net job losses since he took office are roughly 2.4 million.
In 2008 and early 2009, Obama and the complicit networks sold the stimulus bill to the public as an infrastructure package that "could put people to work immediately." Reporters talked about Obama's "new, New Deal" that would imitate the WPA of FDR.
As CBS's Chip Reid said on Dec. 14, 2008, "[A]s FDR did in the 1930s with the WPA, the new president's program starts with roads and highways and bridges." Others called infrastructure the "heart" of the stimulus package and news programs aired stories with cities or states desperate to claim federal monies for infrastructure projects.
Listening to Obama talk about how to create jobs is like listening to a broken record, the only difference is that broken records don't spend billions of taxpayer dollars on the same thing over and over without the promised results.
Sadly, the news reporting is on repeat too. Just like they have since 2008, the network news media continue to support the White House calls for stimulus. While ignoring the fact that Obama already spent billions to fix infrastructure, ABC's Jim Avila said on Sept. 2, "[W]hat can the government do? The nonpolitical overwhelming answer from a dominant majority of economists is spend and build: roads, bridges, schools."
Avila closed that "World News" report saying, "The debt, say most economists, is only a long-term concern and the US can borrow money right now at practically no interest but they should launch a stimulus program as big as the one that was launched in World War II."
Big Promises, Big Fiascos
Obama's New Deal cost nearly $800 billion and came with claims that jobs would start right away, 2.5 million jobs would be created in green industries and infrastructure (according to NBC) and the unemployment rate wouldn't go above 8 percent.
None of those things have panned out as the administration said they would, although the networks generally have ignored those embarrassing failures of the administration. The Business & Media Institute found that one year after the stimulus was passed, nearly half the network news stories had no criticism whatsoever and ABC, CBS and NBC were still favoring pro-stimulus spokesmen.
The infrastructure and construction jobs that were going to rescue the economy turned out not to happen so quickly. In fact, Obama laughed off the fact that "shovel-ready was not as shovel-ready as we expected" at a jobs summit in June 2011.
What about clean energy, solar panels and alternative energy jobs? As evidenced by recent print news coverage, green jobs "investments" by the government look like a great big waste now that many of the very companies touted by the Obama administration and visited by the president or vice president have gone out of business and even weatherization programs have fallen far short of the goals. Yet, the networks have barely noticed.
The administration insists that they've created 2.4 million to 3.6 million jobs with the 2009 stimulus bill. But this seems absurd when you examine payroll employment figures since February 2009. In that time, the net loss of jobs was more than 2.4 million (2,413,000 to be exact).
Even if the stimulus did create jobs, as the Obama administration and media have claimed, those "jobs aren't here to stay" according to CNNMoney. In Nov. 2009, David Goldman wrote that "stimulus may have created or saved 640,000 jobs so far, but many of these positions were never intended to last." Goldman pointed out that the jobs that were to be created by "shovel-ready" projects would end when the work was done or project ran out of funding.
The networks have continued to ignore Obama's most obvious broken promise about the stimulus bill: The administration's claim that with the huge infusion of taxpayer money unemployment would not rise above 8 percent. In his first month in office, the unemployment rate exceeded that figure. It climbed as high as 10.1 percent in Oct. 2009, before dropping to its current rate of 9.1 percent.
But a Special Report from the Business & Media Institute that examined all the evening news reports on the networks from Jan. 20, 2009, to Dec. 21, 2010, found that less than 2 percent (9 out of 589 stories) of stories mentioned Obama's 8 percent promise. Instead, networks called for even more stimulus.
- Julia A. Seymour's blog
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Comments
Infrastructure?!!!
Submitted by P. Aaron on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 9:33am.
What the hell was the first stimulus about then? Oh yeah, Obama jokingly 'fessed up that those 'shovel' jobs were not ready.
Of course the media has a wide & deep memory hole.
Groundhog Day -- great analogy, Julia!
Submitted by Galvanic on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 9:34am.
When the WH press office tells folks that there may not be anything new in Obama's alleged jobs plan, the question in most minds is "Then why waste our time selling failure?"
We've heard it all before. He's a broken record.
→ Tonight's speech
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 9:40am.
Tonight, the President will gloat about his ability to kill jobs at the Gibson Guitar Co. because they don't play the Union song. 41 jobs are now in jeopardy because the Obama administration is demanding that those 41 jobs be outsourced to India.
'Splain that Mr. P!
→ More rant
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 9:50am.
Maybe tonight Mr. Potus will explain why it's so important to deny South Carolina, and Boeing to enter into an agreement to produce American products.
The pig looked up from his swill and proclaimed "Some animals are more equal than others" and returned to his eating.
The Gibson affair is a great example of . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 12:49pm.
. . . why Americans should be fearful of excessive Federal government power.
Obama is actively using the EPA, IRS, NLRB, and ICE to crack down on business enterprises that either (a) have no unions, and/or (b) support Republicans.
Fundamental Divide
Submitted by dvdaughtry on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 9:46am.
I work with a old gal that shows up to work, and believes the money "magically" is deposited into her bank account. She continually accepts short pays, and walks around the building more than she sits at her desk.
As long as she shows up to work, so does the money in her checking account.
That's what we have here with infrastructure jobs from the gov't. These jobs are nothing but COST. They don't generate revenue and they have a finite life.
This isn't Wal-Mart adding a turn lane to make the shopping experience easier and attract business, and therefor revenue. It's dead end work that is for works sake.
You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?
A socialist moron and your
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 9:53am.
A socialist moron and your money are soon parted.
Obama had his chance in 2009!
Submitted by iamsaved on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 10:06am.
Obama could have used the 800 million in 2009 to fix the infrastructure but instead chose to fund his leftist redistribtuion programs that couldn't get passed by congress - Talk about a kid in a candy shop with a blank check. Are we stupid enough to trust him again?
What infrastructure programs he did include never got off the ground because of all the environmental, OSHA, and other federal regulations that prevented hardly anything from even getting started. When one did get started, there were strings attached - the contractors had to use union help. This was just another example of rewarding his supporters.
Speaking of unions, they represent about 7% of the work force but get the lion's share of government contracts and stimulus money. I guess the other 93% don't help get the economy working. Tonight will be more of the same. Anyone want to take a stab at whether he'll have strings attached with any infrastructure proposals he may suggest?
Heard it before
Submitted by Granite on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 10:06am.
On Sept. 5, 2011, ahead of his jobs speech Obama said, "We've got roads and bridges across this country that need rebuilding … Let's put America back to work." Sound familiar?
Yeah I heard it from FDR in the '30's first and the last three (almost) from Obama. Called WPA and CCC back then.
Familiar? Obama is his own echo
Submitted by Galvanic on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 12:53pm.
You don't even have to go back that far. Just go to the 2009 stimulus package which he promised would pump $$$ into "shovel-ready" infrastructure jobs, when in actuality, less than 10% made it to construction.
Note in the picture...
Submitted by Mary Louise Turner on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 10:21am.
Did anyone notice the picture with this blog? Behind Ears are people clearly wearing T-shirts that advertise his favorite unions (especially AFSCME?) The "stinkulus" package was a union sop, pure and simple. Tonight's tirade will merely be another union infomercial...
Brief overview on bridge reconstruction
Submitted by bkeyser on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 10:24am.
Say you've got a 60 year old bridge somewhere; for discussion purposes, lets say it's the American Legion Memorial Bridge on the DC beltway. This bridge is on the west side of DC and crosses the Potomac at the Maryland/DC line. Traffic on this bridge -at midnight on a Sunday is horrendous. On Monday morning, it's a nightmare. But, like all road projects, especially those that carry such heavy traffic, it will eventually need repair. So, scenario set.
First, government must determine a the need for repair. This is done through inspection of the bridge and a review of current allocations for road projects. If there is both a need and a source for funding, a bid notice is issued for qualified (read: political donors) engineers and construction firms. A traffic study is initiated. To this point, we're probably looking at 6 months time elapsed.
Once the traffic study is complete, the engineers determine the required repairs, then set about determining the design calcs and final design. If expansion (widening) of the bridge is deemed necessary either to attenuate traffic flow or for use of the bridge during repair construction, a new design is initiated. Costs are accumulating rapidly at this point as the design team swings into motion. A tentative design is reached after roughly 4 months. Total elapsed time, 10 months. The project grinds to a halt at this point.
Now comes the environmental impact study. National environmental groups are contacted by the government and presented the proposed renovations and widening scenario. At this point, the environmental group has little interest in the final design, other than to determine how much undeveloped land will become hard surface. They'll bring in marine biologists to stud the fish and plant life surrounding this part of the river, as well as anything down stream. They'll test for runoff pollutants -knowing full well that they're not testing impact from the bridge or bridge construction, but the existing surrounding properties. They'll find little on the Maryland side since the river is bordered by the C&O Canal, but lots from Virginia, placing a new burden on Virginia taxpayers to cover additional repairs over and above the bridge construction as a result of this newly found problem. After some hemming and hawing, they'll finally get around to looking at the proposed plan, including temporary structures and storage facilities required during construction and their impact to the surrounding elements. They'll determine the project cannot be completed. They'll eventually be swayed with some federal funding to their cause somewhere else and allow the sacrifice a few rock fish and a leaf here and there, but the level of protection provided will have to be massive and costly. Time elapsed, 18 months.
With the project given the "go" status, engineers and designers will begin working out the construction methods and timeline -the logistics of the project, and submit and updated cost projection to the authorities. It'll be double what they initially projected due to the environmental concerns. They'll begin the public notifications including news releases about the upcoming bridge repair and what commuters must prepare for during the construction process. Ample warning, including road markings and signage needs roughly 90 days prior to construction. If they're lucky, they've only just crossed the two year time frame from conception.
The project will begin in November. They always seem to begin in November since October begins the new fiscal year and availability of funds. Construction of temporary facilities will begin, followed by temporary modifications to allow for continued traffic. By the first of the year, they'll have effectively halved the available traffic lanes and will be ready to begin actual bridge repairs. Time elapsed to this point depends on how much dead time there was awaiting funding, but we're at a minimum of 27 months. Then it'll snow. And ice. Construction will grind to a halt.
In April they'll resume. By January of the next year, they'll have nearly completed one side. After weather delays, they'll finish the outer loop around the 40 month mark from conception, 15 months of construction. They'll be 6 months behind schedule and 20% over budget. The process will continue for the inner loop and after nearly three years in construction and 2 years prior planning, the American Legion Memorial Bridge will reopen for full traffic, a year behind schedule and 50% over budget. So 5 years from someone's speech, and costing two and a half times more than initial projections, Marylanders, Viginians and DC residents can once again take a half hour to cross a tenth-of-a-mile bridge on the DC beltway.
This is shove-ready infrastructure.
Lawsuits
Submitted by Blorg on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 12:23pm.
I can't believe that you forgot to factor in delay from lawsuits by environmental groups.
The new bridge will allow additional traffic, which will cause additional pollution, so the Sierra Club sues claiming that environmental justice is not being satisfied as schools 3/4 of a mile distant will be exposed to increased pollutants. One and one-half years later the court finally rules that even though there is increased traffic flow, the flow is at a higher rate of speed (rather than stop and go) and really results in less pollution but still mandates that the builder fund additional filters in the schools that cannot filter out the pollutants, anyhow.
How true!
Submitted by bkeyser on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 12:38pm.
I didn't even address local opposition or court challenges that will either have to be bought off or fought off, causing both delays in time and increases in cost. Good point!
Timing is very important.
Submitted by upcountrywater on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 1:08pm.
Lefties must stop the job, at the critical point when the contractor has sunk must of his capital into the project. Every second the job is delayed profit becomes fleeting goal.
It's all about bankrupting private companies.... See look another example of why we need a Government paving gang to do the job. Gag me...
You Didn't Build That.
Another example
Submitted by bkeyser on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 10:27am.
The Inter-County Connector (ICC) here in Maryland was conceived in 1950. It'll be completed -supposedly- in 2014.
It's an 18 mile road.
That ICC is A toll road...
Submitted by upcountrywater on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 1:20pm.
I'm all for private ownership of roads, like this E-470 (was) a private highway.
A group of landowners organized a public/private coalition to advocate the southeast part of the beltway, labeled "E-470" for Extension 470. E-470 does not receive gas tax revenue.
You Didn't Build That.
More of the same
Submitted by Iron Tigers Vet on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 10:35am.
from the insane asylum known as the WH.
His policies and ideology are no different from day one as it is today.
Just like the old saying... what is the little white speck on top of chicken sh*t? It's STILL chicken sh*t... and this admin is full of it.
you've got him summed up
Submitted by jkwtrading on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 10:42am.
you've got him summed up neatly.
End Of His Days
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Thu, 09/08/2011 - 11:00am.
Obama's reign of audacity ends in 499 days, if not sooner.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html